Wednesday, October 31, 2007

It Sounded Like A Good Job, Until...

Found this in the Bird Jobs Email. At first, it sounded like an interesting and fun position, until a few lines into the explanation of "adverse conditions":

EXPERIENCED FIELD ASSISTANTS desired: Seeking two assistants to work in Costa Rica on a study of vocal communication in threatened yellow-naped amazon parrots. The focus of this NSF-funded project is observational and experimental based research on parrot communication. This position also involves nest finding and monitoring, and involvement in a conservation program at local schools. Assistants must be quick-thinking, motivated, hard working, and willing to work in adverse conditions including insects, mud, wind and heat. Last field season was a bad tick year; we frequently found clumps of over 100 baby ticks crawling on us. Field work is 6 days a week and is demanding; expect to work hard. Anyone can apply, but Spanish-speaking ability and experience with tree-climbing, video and audio-recording, animal behavior and/or parrots are a plus. Must be able to work both independently and with a team, as well as with children during a conservation based program. Non-smokers preferred. Under-represented minorities are especially encouraged to apply. Duration of project is early Jan to late Mar. Benefits include $1000 salary, up to $650 towards airfare, free group lodging and many beautiful sunrises with the parrots. Food and health insurance not included. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, contact info for two references, and a copy of your transcripts. Contact: CHRISTINE DAHLIN, (EM: crdahlin@nmsu.edu) or mail to 602 Texas Ave, Las Cruces NM 88001.

7 Comments:

Blogger dguzman said...

Yikes! My biggest fear as a birder is NOT:
1. being mauled by a bear in PA
2. being drowned by rain
3. freezing to death

It's finding even ONE tick on me--much less hundreds! No job pays that much!

10/31/2007 9:34 AM  
Anonymous Sassy said...

Eeeeeuuuuwww. *shudders* Otherwise it sounds cool, but (*yurch*) that's nasty.

10/31/2007 9:50 AM  
Anonymous Els said...

But ticks voluntarily jump off of you, as you wrote earlier... as one of your readers said (sorry, don't recall her name): "They don't Lyme you!"
Go for the job, take NBB with you and ship Cinnamon to Amsterdam. I'll babysit untill you're back again.

10/31/2007 11:20 AM  
Anonymous Els said...

It was Dea's joke. On July 12th.

10/31/2007 11:23 AM  
Blogger Jess said...

For that many ticks they ought to offer at least $1500...but if the ticks are edible, that takes care of the food issue. What's the 401K like?

*wouldn't actually eat a tick ;P *

10/31/2007 11:23 AM  
Blogger Annie said...

YUCKY.

How big is a baby tick anyway? And how big is a "clump" of 100 baby ticks? And how disgusting is this idea?

10/31/2007 11:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, too bad I can no longer climb up in the trees. And my high school Spanish is not that great. Otherwise, I'd jump at the chance for a job like this! Is there such a thing as being too honest about the conditions of the job?

10/31/2007 11:50 AM  

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